Demo Chairman Supports Endorsed Slate

Bucks County Democratic Party Chairman Milton Berkes spent last week rallying behind the party's endorsed candidates for county commissioner after they were criticized for their environmental record.

Berkes sent an open letter to party leaders last week urging them to support County Commissioner Sandra A. Miller and Warminster supervisor Raymond Regan, the party's endorsed slate.

Berkes said that rogue committee people were attempting to undercut Miller and Regan.

"Everybody together is going to spend $50,000, that's money we don't have, money we won't have in the general election," Berkes said yesterday. "It's a shame."

Berkes said the Democrats have a good chance of winning two seats and controlling the commissioners this year because only Miller has long-term experience on the board.

Of the three Republicans running for that party's endorsement, only Michael Fitzpatrick has experience on the board and he was appointed in January. Neither his running mate, Charles Martin of Upper Southampton, nor the third candidate, Thomas Lingenfelter, have experience on the commissioners board.

Berkes said commissioners candidates Richard Myers and Isabel Godwin along with committee people Sydell Gross and Lynn Landes were attempting to damage Miller by raising questions about her environmental record. Berkes said the four were misrepresenting Miller's record.

"They are plain lying and I didn't want the committee people to be taken in by those lies," he said. "Sandra is our strongest candidate. For them to try to take her down is ridiculous."

Berkes said candidates should run campaigns highlighting their accomplishments rather than disparaging opponents. By criticizing the front runners, he said, the party members were only making it more likely the Republicans will win in November.

He said Myers and Godwin were the weakest of the seven candidates running for the Democratic endorsement and so felt they had to strike out at the leaders.

He said Myers, Godwin, Gross and Landes worked to prevent Miller from getting the party's endorsement for the 10th state Senatorial District race two years ago.

Lingenfelter, the party's selection, was trounced by Republican Sen. David Heckler and finished third, behind the Patriot Party candidate. Lingenfelter has since become a Republican.

"Our party is at a crossroads -- we can follow those in our party whose interest is selfish and self-centered or we can support Sandy Miller and her running mate Ray Regan -- whose commitment is to the party and to good government," Berkes stated in the letter.

Godwin said yesterday that Berkes should stay out of the primary race and let voters decide the Democrat's slate.

"The party needs this," she said. "What comes out of it are two very strong candidates who represent Democrats."